PracticalLet's start with what matters most: Phuket is a safe island, and the vast majority of trips go without the slightest hitch. As anywhere with a lot of tourism, a few people sometimes take advantage, but the vast majority of rental shops and traders on the island are honest. What does happen, when it happens, is a commercial dispute, and it almost always follows the same patterns.
Statistically, the risk on a Phuket holiday isn't a commercial dispute. It's the road, by a long way.
A large share of accidents on the island involve scooters and motorbikes, and that deserves far more attention than all the tricks below put together: wear a proper helmet, don't ride after drinking, and take care on inland roads when the first rain falls.
For the rest, violent crime is rare, tourist areas stay lively late, and there's no area to avoid for safety reasons. The six tricks that follow are commercial annoyances, not a danger, and they stop working the moment you know about them.
Each one relies on the same lever: a piece of information you don't have when you decide. Filling the gap takes a few minutes.
01
The most widespread trick, and it applies to anything you rent: jet ski, scooter, car. No condition check at the start, an operator picked at random, damage spotted when you hand it back, and a bill out of all proportion to the repair.
How to counter itFilm the vehicle before you leave, rent from an identified operator, and check the condition together when you return.
02
Same principle, applied to scooters, with one extra factor: your licence. Riding without the right licence voids your travel insurance in an accident, and it's by far the most common reason claims are refused in Thailand.
How to counter itForty photos before you ride off, a properly licensed rental company, and the condition checked with them when you return.
03
On rides negotiated person to person, the fare agreed at the start can turn into something else on arrival, often blamed on luggage, waiting time or a detour. It happens more in the evening, when there are fewer cars around.
How to counter itAgree the price before you get in, or use an app that shows it upfront.
04
Exchange booths in the busiest tourist areas sometimes display rates far from those of specialist money changers, with a commission mentioned in small print. On a larger amount, the gap quickly adds up.
How to counter itCheck the day's rate on your phone before you change money, and stick to dedicated money-exchange shops, of which there are plenty on the island.
05
Someone stops you in the street, tells you the place you were heading to is closed today, and offers you something better. The replacement earns them a commission, and the price reflects it.
How to counter itCheck the information yourself. A place that's “closed today” according to a stranger is almost always open.
06
A boat trip sold at a stand, with no operator name and no written terms, paid upfront in cash. The boat usually exists, but the itinerary, the return time and what's actually included can differ quite a lot from what you were told.
How to counter itGo through an identified operator, with something in writing. And be wary of a price far below the market: the difference always turns up somewhere.
Any rented vehicle, whatever it is: a full walk-around video, time-stamped by your phone. Two minutes, and trick number one becomes impossible.
Before you get in, before it starts, before you sit down. Once you're committed, the conversation isn't balanced any more, and that goes for a ride as much as a boat trip.
The Tourist Police, with English-speaking officers. If a disagreement can't be settled calmly, call on the spot rather than afterwards: an officer can act as a go-between.
And the most effective shortcut, if you'd rather not think about any of it: go through someone on the ground. An identified provider, booked in advance, with a contact who picks up. That's exactly what we do, and it removes the question before it comes up.
FAQ
No. Violent crime is rare, tourist areas stay lively late into the evening, and the vast majority of trips go without a single incident. The problems people run into are almost always commercial, a rental dispute or a price that changes, not personal safety. The island's real risk is the roads, especially on two wheels.
Six tricks come up regularly: damage found when you return a rented jet ski or scooter, the fare of a ride changing along the way, exchange booths with poor rates in the busiest tourist areas, a helpful stranger steering you to businesses that pay them, and boat trips sold on the beach without written terms.
1155, the national Tourist Police number, which has English-speaking officers. If a disagreement can't be settled calmly, call on the spot rather than afterwards: an officer can act as a go-between, and things quickly calm down.
Yes, it's the usual deposit in Thailand for any rental: you leave your passport with the rental company and get it back when you return the vehicle. The useful advice lies elsewhere: rent from an identified company (or through us), photograph the vehicle when you set off, and check its condition with the company when you return.
Three habits cover almost every situation: photograph or film any rented vehicle before you leave, agree a price before getting into a vehicle or starting a service, and go through identified providers rather than a stand you happened to walk up to. They take a few minutes and are enough in nearly every case.
Planning your stay?
Villas, condos and apartments, directly from their owners. Send your dates and we'll get back to you with what's genuinely available.
Keep reading
More Phuket guides
Renting with peace of mindRental disputes always follow the same four-step pattern, and break down the moment you remove one step. Two minutes of photos before you ride off, and you're covered.
Renting with peace of mindThe best-documented dispute in Phuket always follows the same four steps. Knowing them is enough to stay out of it, and a jet ski is still a great outing when it's properly organised.
Getting aroundMost of what you read online is about Bangkok. Here, the real issue isn't the price, it's finding a car in the evening, and only one app picks up at the airport.
Ask us anything about your trip. We reply by hand, and we'll tell you honestly if what you've found yourself is the better option.